European family offices struggle to retain their investments in offshore hedge funds

The European Union’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) will constrain investment opportunities amidst concern a number of U.S. fund managers will stop marketing their products in the European Union under the new rule, said Valentin Bohländer from HQ Trust. Bohländer made the remarks during the recent Opalesque Frankfurt Roundtable 2014.

Bohländer told participants of the Roundtable, "Sure, most of the European asset manager will comply with it [AIFMD], because they are used to and required to comply with European regulation. But if I speak with asset managers in Asia or in the U.S., some managers will tell you that they won't talk with European investors at the moment because there are so many uncertainties around AIFMD and how this would impact their business, so they decided not to talk at all with the European investors."

The Roundtable, sponsored by Eurex and tax and legal consultant WTS, took place in Frankfurt at the office of WTS.

Reverse solicitation is a gray zone
According to Bohländer, the concept of so-called "reverse solicitation" that was introduced under the AIFMD has some gray zones. "It's a bit discomforting that I as an investor don’t......................